Mind and body connection

Most people aren’t aware of the incredibly powerful connection between the mind and body. They suffer from an ailment and consider it to be a physical condition only. It is only when awareness of the connection between emotions, attitudes and belief systems is understood that true health can be achieved.

A simple way of understanding this connection is to notice the reaction that can occur during times of intense fear and anxiety. People can lose control of their bowels or bladder. Children often will wet their pants when they are nervous. They have had a thought in their mind that has caused a physical reaction.

These types of reactions are obvious ones that people are likely to notice, but it goes much further than that. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine each organ of the body related to a particular emotion.

Lungs – grief, sadness Liver – anger, resentment

Kidneys – fear Stomach/Spleen – worry

Heart – joy Gallbladder – fright

Does this go some way to explaining why people can lose control of their bladder (kidney) when they are scared, or feel sick in the stomach when they worry? Does it explain the sensation of difficulty breathing/asthma when confronted with intense grief or sadness? Does it explain the too often scenario of drunk people getting angry and into fights? If it does explain the above scenarios, isn’t it therefore the next logical step to connect the emotional state to other states of disease?

It leaves a lot to think about, doesn’t it?

By Andrea Southern, Naturopath, Nutritionist, Herbalist at Stafford and The Gap in Brisbane. For an appointment phone 0412 791 705